Barbara Sarafian plays Martha
Interview with Barbara Sarafian, who plays Martha in Baptiste.
Published: 12 February 2019
The show is extremely sophisticated. There are a lot of characters and you get to know them in depth - nothing is superficial
Could you tell us about the character you play in the show?
Martha is a difficult woman - she has some issues but she has a very high level job. She is Chief of Police, Head of Police, all the titles you can imagine, she has them, and it’s well-earned. She is seen as sharp-minded, intelligent, and she knows what she is doing. Throughout the story, she has been confronted with her past and her future, and she doesn’t know how to handle these scenes. She’s been very severe towards herself and others. She is everything we imagine when we think of a difficult woman.
Tell us about Martha’s character - how does she know Julien?
Martha had a relationship with Julien a long time ago when they were partners on a job. She loved him very much and he loved her too but it didn’t work out. Julien now has a new life, a new family and she had that too. She has a family but she is still a bit bitter about the break-up, apparently.
Could you describe Martha’s relationship with Niels?
Niels is her son, and she worries about him like every mother would. She looks out for him but she is afraid to show that, so she does it sneakily. Niels tries to push Martha away, but in fact he is worried about her too and there is a symbolism between both of them and their relationship. The energy they have is beautiful and it is seen in the office as well as at home. They have a cocoon just them too, which is very vulnerable.
Could you describe Martha’s relationship with Genevieve?
Genevieve is a totally different woman to Martha. She is the kind of woman Martha doesn’t like because she considers Genevieve too harsh, too ambitious, even too superficial. For Martha, Genevieve has all the clichés of the ‘bossy woman’ - while Martha is more fluid, she thinks. She is not afraid to express herself in that matter towards Genevieve. She is not afraid of Genevieve, but she is impressed. She draws back every time there is a confrontation because they are focused on the job and on the case but sometimes they have their moments alone when words are exchanged. There’s definitely tension.
Why should viewers watch Baptiste?
Viewers should watch Baptiste because the show is extremely sophisticated. It is so well written and the story is very interesting. There are a lot of characters and you get to know them in depth. Nothing is superficial and it is thrilling to follow every line of the story.
